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CNN Sunday Morning

Cuba Wants U.S. To Ease Sanctions

Aired May 12, 2002 - 07:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Washington has a message for Fidel Castro when he meets with Jimmy Carter later today. The former president arrives in Cuba this morning for a five-day visit that includes tours of health facilities and schools. The State Department wants Mr. Carter to tell the Cuban leader it's time for democracy. CNN Havana's bureau chief Lucia Newman has the buzz from inside Cuba.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Very few Cubans who still walk the streets of Havana have ever welcomed an American president, even a former one. The last to touch Cuban soil was Calvin Coolidge in 1928. So no wonder ordinary Cubans have high expectations about the visit of Jimmy Carter.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN (voice of translator): It is very good for our country. We will welcome him with open arms.

NEWMAN: The Cuban government hopes the visit by the highest- ranking American to come here since the revolution will be crucial -- crucial in convincing U.S. public opinion and Congress to ease four decades of U.S. economic and political sanctions against Cuba.

RICARDO ALARCON, PRESIDENT, CUBAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (voice of translator): President Carter represents the future, a day that will come in which there will be mutual respect and a good neighbor policy between the U.S. and Cuba, a future with a policy based on certain moral and ethical values.

NEWMAN: But Jimmy Carter's values include human rights, which is why he'll be meeting activists like Elizardo Sanchez. The leader of the outlawed by tolerated Human Rights and Reconciliation Commission met President Carter in Atlanta 10 years ago and asked him to try and help end the cold war between the U.S. and Cuba.

ELIZARDO SANCHEZ, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST (voice of translator):This is a once and only opportunity. If the Cuban government doesn't take advantage of it, it will be making a grave mistake.

NEWMAN: Other government opponents fear President Castro will use the question of better relations with the U.S. to distract attention from the domestic issues of civil rights and political reforms. JORGE OLIVERA, DISSIDENT JOURNALIST (voice of translator): I think the economic embargo and human rights should be put on an even scale.

NEWMAN (on camera): The vast majority of Cubans want friendly and normal relations with Washington. But, like the chicken and the egg, the dilemma here seems to be what comes first -- concessions from Washington, or political changes on this communist island.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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